Multi-Sensor Platform for ASi-5

In sensor-based industrial applications, customers often face challenges when evaluating multiple sensors due to the lack of compatibility between existing sensor evaluation boards and specific sensor interfaces. This lack of integration slows down the testing and evaluation phase, adding time and complexity to development cycles. The Actuator Sensor Interface version 5 (ASi-5) offers high-speed communication between sensors and control units but lacks the necessary sensor integration capabilities.

This design addresses the problem by providing a single PCB system that integrates with multiple sensors, featuring a dedicated MCU for pre-evaluation of sensor data, thus offloading this task from the host MCU. The system supports 3.3V and 5V power supplies and allows easy sensor selection via DIP switches or software. This flexibility accelerates sensor evaluation in the lab, helping customers quickly assess sensor performance and integration with ASi-5 systems.

System Benefits:

• Multiple sensors integrated on one board enable quick and easy evaluation in a single lab setup, speeding up development and reducing complexity.
• Sensor selection by DIP switch or software allows users to switch between different sensors, providing flexibility in sensor evaluation.
• Integrated powerful, rich analog features in the MCU for sensor data pre-evaluation/calculation enable high-precision sensor data analysis, ensuring more accurate sensor readings.
• Interfaces for existing ASi-5 boards, including 8-/16-/24-bit parallel out for simple ASi-5 slaves and SPI for complex ASi-5 slaves, simplify the connection between the sensor board and ASi-5 systems, providing compatibility with both simple and complex ASi-5 slaves.
• Single 3.3V or 5V input and internal generation of additional power rails (3.3V + 5V) reduce the need for external power components, simplifying power management and integration processes for the sensor board.